You might be sitting on untapped capacity. Here’s how to find out.
Everything on your to-do list is getting done. Deadlines are met. The team’s humming along. On the surface, things seem fine.
But something’s missing.
You have that quiet suspicion that your team could be taking on more—thinking more strategically, solving problems before they land on your desk, leading instead of waiting for direction.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. At Levy Consulting Co., we work with business owners and executive teams who are running successful operations but still feel stretched thin. And one of the most common patterns we see? High-performing teams operating below their actual capacity—not because they’re incapable, but because leadership hasn’t intentionally made room for growth.
Most leaders don’t mean to underutilize their team. It just happens—usually out of habit, speed, or a desire to “do it right.” But here’s the thing:
People only rise to the level of responsibility they’re trusted with.
If you want to know whether your team is ready for more, try these two lightweight tests. They’ll give you a quick read on where your team is today—and where there might be room to level up.
The 10% Stretch Test
Pick a project or responsibility that’s just outside someone’s current role—nothing huge, just 10% more than they’re used to.
Instead of: Having your ops lead run the usual weekly check-in
Try: Asking them to redesign the agenda based on your quarterly goals
Instead of: Assigning your coordinator a simple tracking task
Try: Letting them draft the full report with initial analysis and recommendations
The goal here isn’t perfection—it’s progress. If they rise to the challenge without dropping the ball, you’ve just unlocked capacity you weren’t using.
The “What Would You Do?” Test
Next time someone on your team comes to you with a question, try asking for their solution first.
Instead of: “Go with Vendor A again.”
Try: “If you were making the call, who would you pick and why?”
Instead of: “Here’s how I’d present this to the board.”
Try: “What do you think is the most important takeaway, and how would you frame it?”
This test encourages independent thinking and shows you who’s ready to start operating at the next level. If they surprise you (in a good way), you’ll know your bottleneck isn’t capability—it’s trust.
The Bottom Line
Most of us unintentionally play it safe when it comes to delegation. But safety isn’t the same as scalability. And if you’re constantly stepping in or making the final call, you’re not leading—you’re buffering.
The most effective leaders we support don’t guess at capacity. They create space for it. They test it. And they build systems that let strong teams stretch into something even better.
So if you’ve been wondering whether your team can take on more… try asking them. Better yet—let them show you.
Need help structuring your team to grow with you?
That’s what we do. At Levy Consulting Co., we help leaders design teams and systems that scale—without burning out the people at the center of it all.
Let’s talk about what’s next for your business.
